TWI736266B - Flexible electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible electronic device including a bottom base, a supporting plate, two hinge modules, a bearing frame, a bending mechanism, and a flexible panel is provided. The supporting plate has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotably connected to the bottom base. The two hinges module are disposed at the second end of the supporting plate. The bearing frame body has a fixed part and two curved parts. The fixed part is connected to the two hinge modules. The curved parts are connected to the fixed part. The bending mechanism is disposed on the fixed part and the two curved parts and covers the bending mechanism. The flexible panel is disposed at the frame and covers the bending module. When the flexible electronic device is switched to curve mode, the bending module drives the two curved parts stretched with respect to the fixed part to bend the flexible panel. When the flexible electronic device is switched to flat mode, the bending module drives the two curved parts moved close to the fixed part to pull out the flexible panel.

Description

Flexible electronic device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, in particular to a flexible electronic device that can be switched to a curved surface mode and a flat surface mode.

Existing electronic displays are mainly used to display images, texts or videos converted from digital signals. This type of electronic display is suitable for televisions, desktop computers, digital signage, or portable electronic devices such as tablet computers, notebook computers, and smart phones. Most of the existing display screens already have touch functions. Replace the existing physical buttons. Take a desktop computer as an example. The display screen is usually connected to a support structure perpendicular to the desktop so that the display screen is suspended on the desktop and faces the user. When performing touch operations, you need to hover your arms on the desktop and use your fingers. Touch the screen. However, the existing touch methods that hover on the desktop, lack of support by the arm, are prone to soreness and fatigue under long-term touch operations. In addition, the touch function of the existing display screen is limited to simple touch operations, and is not suitable for fine operations such as drawing and writing.

The present invention provides a flexible electronic device that can be switched to a curved surface mode and a plane mode. In the curved surface mode, it is switched to a curved surface to improve the viewing experience, and in the flat mode, it is switched to a flat surface to facilitate touch operation.

The flexible electronic device of the present invention includes a base, a supporting plate, two pivot modules, a supporting frame, a bending mechanism and a flexible panel. The support plate has a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally connected to the base. The two pivot modules are arranged at the second end of the support plate. The supporting frame has a fixing part and two bending parts. The fixed part is connected to the two pivot modules. The two bending parts are respectively connected to opposite sides of the fixing part. The bending mechanism is arranged on the fixed part and the two bending parts and is connected to the two pivot modules. The flexible panel is arranged on the carrying frame and covers the bending mechanism and the two pivot modules. When switching to the curved surface mode, the bending mechanism drives the two bending parts to stretch on the fixed part to bend the flexible panel. When switching to the plane mode, the bending mechanism drives the two bending parts to approach the fixed part to flatten the flexible panel. Type panel.

Based on the foregoing, the flexible electronic device of the present invention is suitable for switching between curved and planar modes. In the curved mode, the bending mechanism bends the supporting frame to increase the curvature of the flexible panel. In the plane mode, the bending mechanism restores the load-bearing frame to flatten the flexible panel. In addition, in the planar mode, the supporting frame and the flexible panel can be rotated relative to the support plate to change their angles, so as to avoid the flexible panel from being suspended, so it is suitable for long-term touch operations.

Furthermore, the flexible electronic device of the present invention is turned by an external force to quickly switch to the curved surface mode or the flat surface mode, which can solve the shortcomings that the existing electronic device cannot have both a curved screen and a flat touch screen, and achieve a good user experience.

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a curved surface mode of a flexible electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic side plan view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the flexible electronic device in FIG. 1A in plan mode. FIG. 1D is a schematic side plan view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1C. FIG. 1E is an exploded perspective view of components of the single pivot module of FIG. 1B.

1A to 1D, the flexible electronic device 100 of this embodiment is, for example, a simple display device to be combined with a desktop computer or a computer that integrates a host and a display screen into one.

The flexible electronic device 100 includes a base 110, a supporting plate 120, two pivot modules 130, a supporting frame 140, a bending mechanism 150 and a flexible panel 160. The base 110 is configured on a desktop or other plane, and the support plate 120 has a first end E1 and a second end E2. The first end E1 is pivotally connected to the base 110. In detail, the first end E1 is pivotally connected to the base 110 through a hinge structure, and the hinge structure can provide a torsion force to the first end E1 of the support plate 120. Therefore, the supporting plate 120 can be rotated relative to the base 110 to have a first included angle A1, and the vertical height of the flexible panel 160 relative to the base 110 can be freely adjusted to meet different usage requirements.

Referring to FIG. 1C and FIG. 1E, the two pivot modules 130 are spaced apart from each other and are respectively disposed at the second end E2 of the support plate 120. The supporting frame 140 has a fixing portion 141, two bending portions 142 and two buffer members 143. The fixing portion 141 is connected to the two pivot modules 130, so it can rotate relative to the support plate 120 to adjust a second included angle A2. The bending portions 142 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the fixing portion 141 respectively. The two buffer members 143 are arranged on the fixed portion 141 and the two curved portions 142 along a horizontal direction PD and are parallel to each other.

The bending mechanism 150 is disposed on the fixed portion 141 and the two bending portions 142, is connected to the two pivot modules 130, and is used to drive the plurality of bending portions 142. The flexible panel 160 is disposed on the two buffer members 143 of the supporting frame 140 to be spaced from the fixed portion 141 and the two bending portions 142 and covers the bending mechanism 150 and the two pivot modules 130. In addition, the two buffer members 143 are used to absorb the stress generated when the flexible panel 160 is bent, and prevent the flexible panel 160 from being damaged.

1A and 1B, when the flexible electronic device 100 is switched to the curved surface mode, the bending mechanism 150 drives the two bending portions 142 to stretch on the fixed portion 141 to bend the flexible panel 160 and present a curved shape. The curved flexible panel 160 is close to the appearance of the human eye, which helps reduce eye/head rotation and reduce fatigue. In detail, the supporting plate 120 turns relative to the base 110 toward a first rotation direction T1, and there is a first included angle A1 between the supporting plate 120 and the base 110. The supporting frame 140 turns relative to the supporting plate 120 in a second rotation direction T2 opposite to the first rotation direction T1 through the two pivot modules 130, and the supporting frame 140 and the supporting plate 120 have a second included angle A2, wherein The first included angle A1 and the second included angle A2 are both acute angles. In this state, the supporting frame 140 is perpendicular to the base 110 and faces the user to facilitate viewing.

1C and FIG. 1D, when the flexible electronic device 100 is switched to the planar mode, the bending mechanism 150 drives the two bending portions 142 to approach the fixing portion 141 to flatten the flexible panel 160 and present a flat plate shape. In detail, the supporting plate 120 is turned toward the second rotation direction T2 relative to the base 110, and the supporting plate 120 is stacked on the base 110. The supporting frame 140 turns relative to the supporting plate 120 in the first direction T1 through the two pivot modules 130, and the second included angle A2 between the supporting frame 140 and the supporting plate 120 is an obtuse angle. In this state, the carrying frame 140 is supported by the base 110 and the desktop or a flat surface, which allows the user to place his arms and is suitable for long-term use, and is also suitable for fine touch operations such as drawing or writing.

2A is a schematic front view of some components of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1A. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 2A along the line A-A. 2C is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the bending mechanism of FIG. 2A and the two pivot modules.

3A is a schematic front view of some components of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1C. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 3A along the line B-B. 3C is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the bending mechanism of FIG. 3A and the two pivot modules.

With reference to FIGS. 1E and 2C, each pivot module 130 includes a rotating shaft 131, a first bracket 132, a second bracket 133, a first cam member 134, a second cam member 135, a linkage pin 136, An auxiliary elastic member 137 and a torsion member 138.

The first bracket 132 is rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft 131 and connected to the fixing portion 141 of the supporting frame 140. The first bracket 132 has a sliding groove SG. The second bracket 133 is sleeved and fixed on the rotating shaft 131 and connected to the second end E2 of the supporting plate 120. The first cam member 134 is rotatably and movably sleeved on the rotating shaft 131. A positioning portion 1341 of the first cam member 134 is located on the sliding groove SG of the first bracket 132. The second cam member 135 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 131 and is adjacent to the second bracket 133. The interlocking pin 136 penetrates the positioning portion 1341 of the first cam 134 and the sliding groove SG of the first bracket 132 and is connected to the bending mechanism 150.

In addition, the first cam element 134 has a first convex surface PS1 and a first concave surface CS1, and the second cam element 135 has a second convex surface PS2 and a second concave surface CS2. The auxiliary elastic member 137 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 131 and abuts against the first cam member 134 and the outer ring member 1311 of the first rotating shaft 131 respectively to continuously provide an elastic force to push against the first cam member 134. The torsion member 138 is sleeved on an end of the rotating shaft 131 opposite to the second cam member 135 and adjacent to the first bracket 132 to provide a torsion force.

1B, 2A, and 2C, when each second bracket 133 and each rotating shaft 131 pivot in a first axis AD1 relative to each first bracket 132, the first cam member 134 is driven to slide on the rotating shaft 131 to approach The second cam member 135 (that is, the first convex surface PS1 and the first concave surface CS1 respectively correspond to the second concave surface CS2 and the second convex surface PS2), and the positioning portion 1341 of the first cam member 134 drives the linkage pin 136 to the first bracket 132 The sliding groove SG moves and is relatively close to a center line CL of the supporting frame 140.

1C, 3A, and 3C, when each second bracket 133 and each rotating shaft 131 pivot relative to each first bracket 132 toward a second axis AD2 opposite to the first axis AD1, the first cam is driven The member 134 slides on the shaft 131 to partially abut against the second cam member 135 (that is, the first convex surface PS1 and the second convex surface PS2 abut against each other) and form a distance D (that is, the first concave surface CS1 and the second concave surface CS2 mutually abut each other). Space), and the positioning portion 1341 of the first cam member 134 drives the interlocking pin 136 to move in the sliding groove SG of the first bracket 132 and is relatively far away from the center line CL of the supporting frame 140.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A and 3B, the flexible electronic device 100 further includes a plurality of inner rotating brackets 170 and a plurality of outer rotating brackets 180. The inner rotating bracket 170 is respectively disposed on both sides of the fixed portion 141 and faces the flexible panel 160. A plurality of outer rotating brackets 180 are respectively arranged on the two bending portions 142 and facing the flexible panel 160. Each outer rotating bracket 180 is pivotally connected to each corresponding inner rotating bracket 170 so that each bending portion 142 can bend relative to the fixed portion 141 fold.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bending mechanism 150 includes two linkage rods 151, two middle linkage rods 152, a plurality of inner brackets 153, a plurality of outer brackets 154, and a plurality of ejection links 155.

The two linkage rods 151 are pivotally connected to the fixing portion 141 of the supporting frame 140 and each linkage rod 151 has a first end P1 and a second end P2. Each first end P1 is pivotally connected to each interlocking pin 136. The two middle connecting rods 152 are pivotally connected to the second ends P2 of the two connecting rods 151 respectively. The plurality of inner brackets 153 are respectively arranged on both sides of the fixing portion 141 and face the flexible panel 160. The plurality of outer brackets 154 are respectively disposed on the two curved portions 142 and face the flexible panel 160. A plurality of ejection links 155 are respectively rotatably connected to a plurality of corresponding inner brackets 153 and a plurality of outer brackets 154. The two middle connecting rods 152 abut against the corresponding multiple ejection connecting rods 155 respectively.

The two middle connecting rods 152 are adapted to move away from each other along a horizontal direction PD and push against the plurality of ejection connecting rods 155 to drive the two curved parts 142 to stretch to the fixed part 141. The two middle connecting rods 152 are adapted to be relatively close along the horizontal direction PD, so as to release the push-out connecting rod 155 and return the bent portion 142 to its original position to approach the fixed portion 141.

Referring to FIGS. 2C and 3C, furthermore, each middle link 152 has two pushing surfaces PS, and each ejection link 155 has an inclined surface TS. When the two middle connecting rods 152 are relatively far away along the horizontal direction PD, each abutting surface PS partially contacts each inclined surface TS. When the two middle links 152 are relatively close along the horizontal direction PD, each abutting surface PS is closely attached to each inclined surface TS.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2A to 2C, when the flexible electronic device 100 is switched to the curved surface mode, the two interlocking pins 136 are relatively close to the center line CL of the carrying frame 140 to drive the two interlocking rods 151 relative to the fixed portion 141 Pivoting toward each other is generated, and the two middle connecting rods 152 are driven to move away from each other along a horizontal direction PD. The two abutting surfaces PS of each intermediate link 152 push each inclined surface TS of each ejection link 155, and the two ends of each ejection link 155 pivot relative to the inner bracket 153 and the plurality of outer brackets 154 to drive The plurality of bending portions 142 stretch on the fixed portion 141, and the buffer portion 143 and the flexible panel 160 are also pushed by the ejector link 155 to be in a bent state (see FIG. 2B). 2B and 2C, the flexible panel 160 at this time is in a bent state and suspended on the base 110, and is suitable for playing multimedia images for the user to watch.

Referring to FIGS. 1C and 3A to 3C, when the flexible electronic device 100 is switched to the planar mode, the two interlocking pins 136 are relatively far away from the center line CL of the carrying frame 140 to drive the two interlocking rods 151 relative to the fixed portion 141 Pivoting to each other is generated, and the two middle links 152 are moved closer together along a horizontal direction PD. Make the two pushing surfaces PS of each middle link 152 completely contact each inclined surface TS of each ejection link 155, and the two ends of each ejection link 155 return to the original position with respect to the inner bracket 153 and the plurality of outer brackets 154, The plurality of curved portions 142 are close to the fixed frame 141, and the buffer portion 143 and the flexible panel 160 are flattened. Referring to FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, the flexible panel 160 is in a flat state at this time and rests on the base 110 and the desktop, and is suitable for functions such as touch, drawing, and writing.

2A and 3A, more specifically, a plurality of staggered gaps G are formed between the fixed portion 141 and each curved portion 142. In the planar mode, the fixed portion 141 and each curved portion 142 are not bent so that multiple The gap G appears as a long strip (see Figure 3A). In the curved surface mode, each curved portion 142 is stretched to the fixed portion 141, so that each gap G presents an elliptical shape (see FIG. 2A). Here, the size of each gap G in the bending mode is larger than the size of each gap G in the plane mode. The multiple gaps G of the supporting frame 140 are beneficial to improve the characteristics of bending and extension, and can be elastically deformed as the two bending portions 142 are stretched. In addition, the gaps G after stretching also have a heat dissipation effect.

In summary, the flexible electronic device of the present invention is suitable for switching between the curved surface and the planar mode. In the curved surface mode, the bending mechanism bends the supporting frame to increase the curvature of the flexible panel. In the plane mode, the bending mechanism restores the load-bearing frame to flatten the flexible panel. In addition, in the planar mode, the supporting frame and the flexible panel can be rotated relative to the support plate to change their angles, so as to avoid the flexible panel from being suspended, so it is suitable for long-term touch operations.

Furthermore, the flexible electronic device of the present invention is turned by an external force to quickly switch to the curved surface mode or the flat surface mode, which can solve the shortcomings that the existing electronic device cannot have both a curved screen and a flat touch screen, and achieve a good user experience.

100: Flexible electronic device 110: base 120: support plate 130: Pivot Module 131: Hinge 1311: Outer ring 132: The first bracket 133: second bracket 134: The first cam piece 1341: Positioning Department 135: The second cam piece 136: Linkage bolt 137: Auxiliary elastic parts 138: Torque Parts 140: Carrying frame 141: Fixed part 142: Bend 143: Buffer 150: bending module 151: Link Rod 152: Intermediate Link 153: Inner Stent 154: Outer Bracket 155: ejector link 160: Flexible panel 170: Internal rotating bracket 180: Outer rotating bracket D: spacing G: gap A1: The first angle A2: The second included angle CL: Centerline E1: first end E2: second end CS1: First concave surface CS2: First concave surface SG: Chute PD: horizontal direction P1: The first end P2: second end PS: Push to the surface PS1: Convex PS2: Convex T1: first rotation direction T2: second rotation direction AD1: first axis AD2: second axis TS: Inclined surface

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a curved surface mode of a flexible electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a schematic side plan view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the flexible electronic device in FIG. 1A in plan mode. FIG. 1D is a schematic side plan view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1C. FIG. 1E is an exploded perspective view of components of the single pivot module of FIG. 1B. 2A is a schematic front view of some components of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1A. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 2A along the line A-A. 2C is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the bending mechanism of FIG. 2A and the two pivot modules. 3A is a schematic front view of some components of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 1C. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flexible electronic device of FIG. 3A along the line B-B. 3C is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the bending mechanism of FIG. 3A and the two pivot modules.

100: Flexible electronic device

110: base

120: support plate

140: Carrying frame

150: bending mechanism

160: Flexible panel

E1: first end

Claims (12)

A flexible electronic device includes: a base; a support plate with a first end and a second end, the first end is pivotally connected to the base; two pivot modules are arranged on the support plate The second end; a supporting frame with a fixed portion and two curved portions, the fixed portion is connected to the pivot modules, the curved portions are respectively connected to opposite sides of the fixed portion; a bending mechanism , Arranged on the fixed part and the two bending parts and connected to the pivot modules; and a flexible panel arranged on the supporting frame and covering the bending mechanism and the pivot modules, wherein When switching to the curved surface mode, the bending mechanism drives the bending parts to stretch on the fixed part to bend the flexible panel. When switching to the plane mode, the bending mechanism drives the bending parts to approach The fixing part is used to flatten the flexible panel. The flexible electronic device according to claim 1, wherein in the curved surface mode, the support plate is turned toward a first rotation direction relative to the base, and the support plate and the base have a first angle, and the supporting frame is transparent The pivot modules are turned relative to the support plate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, and the supporting frame and the support plate have a second included angle, the first included angle and the second The included angle is an acute angle. The flexible electronic device according to claim 2, wherein in the planar mode, the supporting plate is turned toward the second rotation direction relative to the base, and the supporting plate is stacked on the base, and the supporting frame passes through the The pivot module turns relative to the support plate toward the first rotation direction, and the second included angle is an obtuse angle. The flexible electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pivot modules includes: a rotating shaft; a first bracket rotatably sleeved on the rotating shaft and connected to the supporting frame, the first bracket having A sliding groove; a second bracket sleeved on the shaft and connected to the second end of the support plate; a first cam member rotatably and movably sleeved on the shaft, a portion of the first cam member The positioning portion is located opposite the sliding groove; a second cam piece is sleeved on the rotating shaft and adjacent to the second bracket; and a linkage pin penetrates the positioning portion of the first cam piece and is connected to the sliding groove The bending mechanism. The flexible electronic device according to claim 4, wherein when the second bracket and the rotating shaft pivot in a first axial direction relative to the first bracket, the first cam member is driven to slide on the rotating shaft to approach For the second cam member, the positioning portion drives the linkage pin to move in the sliding groove and is relatively close to a center line of the supporting frame. The flexible electronic device according to claim 5, when the second bracket and the rotating shaft pivot relative to the first bracket in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction, the first cam is driven The piece slides on the shaft to partially abut the second cam piece A gap is formed, and the positioning portion drives the linkage pin to move in the sliding groove and is relatively far away from the center line of the supporting frame. The flexible electronic device according to claim 4, wherein each pivot module further includes an auxiliary elastic element and a torsion element, and the auxiliary elastic element is sleeved on the rotating shaft and abuts against the first cam element to provide An elastic force. The torsion member is sleeved on an end of the rotating shaft opposite to the second cam member and adjacent to the first bracket to provide a torsion force. The flexible electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the bending mechanism includes: two linkage rods, pivotally connected to the fixing portion and having a first end and a second end, each of the first ends Pivotally connected to each of the interlocking pins; two intermediate links, respectively pivotally connected to each of the second ends; a plurality of inner brackets, respectively arranged on both sides of the fixed portion and facing the flexible panel; a plurality of outer brackets , Are respectively disposed on the curved portions and face the flexible panel; and a plurality of ejector links are respectively rotatably connected to the corresponding inner brackets and the outer brackets, and the intermediate links respectively abut Leans against the ejector links, wherein the middle links are adapted to move away from each other along a horizontal direction, and push against the ejector links to pivot relative to the inner brackets and the outer brackets to drive The bent parts are stretched to the fixing part, and the intermediate links are adapted to be relatively close along a horizontal direction to release the pushing against the ejection links and make the bent parts approach the fixing part. The flexible electronic device according to claim 8, wherein each of the intermediate links has two pushing surfaces, and each of the ejection links has an inclined surface, and when the intermediate links are relatively far away along the horizontal direction, Each of the pushing surfaces partly contacts each of the inclined surfaces, and when the intermediate links are relatively close along the horizontal direction, each of the pushing surfaces is in close contact with each of the inclined surfaces. The flexible electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting frame has two buffer members, which are arranged on the fixed part and the two curved parts and are parallel to each other, and the flexible panel is arranged on the two buffer parts . The flexible electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of staggered gaps are formed between the fixed portion and each of the curved portions, and in the curved surface mode, each of the curved portions is stretched on the fixed portion to make The size of each of the gaps is larger than the size of each of the gaps in the plane mode. The flexible electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inner rotating brackets and a plurality of outer rotating brackets, and the inner rotating brackets are respectively disposed on both sides of the fixing portion and facing the flexible panel. The outer rotating brackets are respectively arranged on the bending portions and facing the flexible panel, and each of the outer rotating brackets is pivotally connected to the corresponding inner rotating bracket, so that each of the bending portions can be bent relative to the fixed portion.

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